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Nearly every bride I speak to has this same question. Since I’ve “been there” as the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride for Destination Annapolis weddings, my answer is, “Because you don’t know what you don’t know.” Even though I’ve lived in the Annapolis area for over 30 years, planning a wedding is so much different than every day trips to Annapolis for shopping or to go to a restaurant or event. Experience is the very best teacher for wedding planning and since you’ll only be doing this once, Going to the Chapel… has the expertise you need for every step of the process.​ Many couples feel a wedding planner will take away from their power to have the wedding they want. I promise you in the case of Going to the Chapel… nothing could be farther from fact. While I have a large core of vendors and venues with which I have worked over the years, I add to this team with each wedding that I attend as a guest or planner. Your planner should listen to your wedding wishes and dreams and make that happen as your budget allows. Going to the Chapel… will point you in the direction of vendors to selected to fit your wedding requests, budget and availability. And if at first, we don’t succeed, we will try again!

At first glance, couples often feel the cost of a wedding planner is line item in their wedding budget that looks like an easy way to save money by deleting. But, because planners know different costs for services from local vendors and how to get you the services that are on your wish list, Going to the Chapel… will be able to save you money in the end. We work with the vendors we suggest on a regular basis and because of this relationship, special pricing is often available or small special services are added without charge. Remember you are planning a wedding once, it is a continuing business for us.

There are parts of the wedding planning and preparation process that take lots of time, are just plain hard work and not very much fun! Details and vendor contacts take hours that many brides and grooms can’t take from their work day. Pouring over schedules to make certain everyone will be at the right place at the right time is no fun. Your planner expects to provide this service to you to make sure everything goes smoothly on your special day.​ There will be hiccups for every bride and groom. Some couples rely on their families or bridal party to assist with the small things that crop up. Rarely, however, does a bridesmaid or groomsman ask to take on these responsibilities. Remember, for a destination wedding, they are paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars to have the privilege to be a part of your wedding. They want to have fun with you! Going to the Chapel… deals with every snafu, often without the knowledge of any guests or wedding participants.

Finally, THE STRESS! Wedding planning is stressful. There is no other way to put it. Details, meddling, tears, arguments, exhaustion. Is this how you want to remember one of the most important days of your life? Your professional wedding planner will sweat the details! And, oh yes, we have seen drama before and often it isn’t the bride or the groom that is the key character in that play! Let your planner contend with it, you enjoy your guest and make beautiful memories of the day of which you’ve dreamed.

Call 410-615-8673 or contact janwise@annapolismilitaryweddings.comGoing to the Chapel… ! It won’t cost you anything and you could be on your way to an easier, less stressful, wedding planning experience within your budget and making your dreams a reality!

​​Just think how happy your guests will be when at check-in or a welcome gathering they are offered a fun-filled welcome bag. It sets the tone for the wedding celebration; making your Annapolis marriage an extra-special event for you and all your guests. Here are some great ideas for the welcome bags:

 Welcome Booklet & Annapolis Map

 Utz Old Bay potato chips

 Capital Teas with a USNA mug

 A packet of Old Bay Seasoning and a recipe for Maryland Crab Cakes

 Berger cookies

 Fisher’s Popcorn

 Customized water bottles

 A bottle of “Natty Boh” beer

 Snack crackers

 Travel pack of pain killers or spa slippers

 Point of contact names & numbers

Play Tour Guide:​ Keep your guests in the know by providing them with a copy of Going to the Chapel’s … Welcome to Annapolis booklet in their welcome bag, personalized for your wedding. This eight-page guide book filled with interesting facts and history of Annapolis, touring, shopping and dining tips, opens with a personal welcome from the bride and groom and includes a schedule of wedding events.Guide books are exclusively available from Going to the Chapel…. For details contactJanwise@annapolismilitaryweddings.com.

Author

Jan Wise is the principal wedding planner for Going to the Chapel. In addition to planning experience, she has been the Mother of theGroom and the Mother of the Bride for Destination Annapolis Weddings. ​